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Superintendent’s Message
June 22, 2009
After almost six months as the
superintendent of Lauderdale County Schools, I have been
encouraged by many things that I have seen within our school
system, but my observations have led me to an important
conclusion: we can do better.
I believe in the ability of our faculty,
staff, and most importantly, our students to make gains and
move toward excellence in education. As we prepare for the
start of the 2009-2010 school year, I offer an outline below
on the areas of focus and planning for Lauderdale County
Schools.
The Board of Education and the central
office administrative team held a retreat with a purpose of
developing a process for strategic planning. During this
time together, the team established vision, mission, and
core values for Lauderdale County Schools. At the April 2009
board meeting, the board reaffirmed the work product.
Our Vision:
All Lauderdale County Schools will be
proficient and in good standing in the State.
Our Mission:
To provide each child with the education and
tools needed to be productive citizens.
We value:
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The academic achievement and social
development of ALL children;
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An environment conducive to learning –
clean, safe, respectful, and positive;
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The involvement of parents in the
education of their children;
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Quality teachers and administrators who
are competent, passionate, and put children first; and
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Accountability in all things with the
use of sound, accurate data in decision-making.
We must address our culture, our priorities,
and our practices in inter-related areas to improve and
achieve our vision:
Children
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High expectations and academic standards
for ALL students
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Broad access to rigorous, relevant
instruction
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Positive, productive relationships with
adults in school
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Multiple options and pathways to
graduation
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School readiness and a strong foundation
in literacy
Systemic Collaboration and Staff
Development
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Deliberately develop strong, effective
principals
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Establish a culture of teacher
collaboration and leadership
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Quality instruction and focus on student
learning in every classroom, every day
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High student expectations, high
standards, and accountability
Family and Community Involvement and
Support
Facilities and Infrastructure
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Operational efficiency to support
academic excellence
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Prioritize facility needs for LC Schools
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Budget principle: transparency, equity,
and alignment to mission
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Enhanced analytical capacity to inform
decision-making
Academic Achievement: Accountability and
Monitoring
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Focus on results not just effort
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Measurement and evaluation in all that
LCS does
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Goal to guide our work and define
success
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Children come first – their interests
supersede politics, adult convenience, and personal
differences
In closing, Lauderdale County Schools is a
“people business,” and our work is a labor of love – a
profession, certainly, but more than anything, a calling.
Day in and day out, our teachers, administrators, and staff
go above and beyond the call of duty to educate, nurture,
and inspire the children of our county. I acknowledge their
hard work, and I am grateful.
Again, I want to thank the Board of
Education for the opportunity to lead Lauderdale County
Schools. I take this job seriously, and I believe in our
capacity to be a great school system. I continually look
forward to working with you, for you, and beside you while
keeping kids first.
May 2009
Message
March
2009 Message
January
2009 Message
Joey Hassell,
Superintendent,
Lauderdale County Board of Education
jhassell@mail.lced.net
Lauderdale County
Superintendent of Schools Joey Hassell is a
graduate of Gibson County High School in Dyer, Tenn. He went
on to complete his bachelor’s degree in special education
from Lambuth University and his master’s degree in
educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. He
has also completed coursework toward his education
specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from
Tennessee State University and served as a 2008 Summer
Fellow through Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of
Education and Human Development.
The former assistant
principal of Lauderdale Middle School, Hassell comes home to
Lauderdale County after serving as Superintendent of Lake
County Schools for five years. He has taught students in
pre-k through 12th grades in the Jackson-Madison County and
Lauderdale County school districts. In 2001, he and his
family moved to Lake County where he was appointed Principal
of Lake County High School. In December 2003, he was
appointed superintendent of Lake County Schools where he
served the students in this leadership role through December
2008.
Hassell is a member of the
Tennessee Education Association, Tennessee Organization of
School Superintendents, American Association of School
Administrators, and the National Staff Development Council.
Hassell is married to
Kathryn, a first-grade teacher, and they have four children,
Jon, Desi, Jenna and Savannah. The Hassells are members of
the First United Methodist Church in Ripley.
Superintendent Entry Plan - The First 90-Days
Orientation Activities: January 2009 – May 2009
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Shawn
Kimble, Deputy Director of Schools -Personnel, Policy
and Teacher Recruitment